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Ford's New Li-Ion Batteries Reduce Use of Rare Earth Metals, Enable Superior Fuel Economy for Fusion

pr newswire -- New projected 47-mpg Ford Fusion Hybrid and EPA-certified 47-mpg C-MAX Hybrid feature lighter, more efficient, more powerful lithium-ion batteries that are expected to reduce Ford's use of expensive, rare earth metals by up to 500,000 pounds annually

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Submitted Sep 13, 2012 By: jbob357

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CapriceWagon All-Star Author Washington Posts:939 Points:479,070 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 3:47:30 PM Ignore CapriceWagon Report Abuse Yay, maybe the hybrids will stop destroying the environment
E-Squirrel Champion Author Orange County Posts:3,012 Points:819,060 Joined:Feb 2005	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 3:45:34 PM Ignore E-Squirrel Report Abuse jamese182 asks: "Where are all the nature loving tree-huggers when it comes to what these batteries do to our environment? Did they take a pay-off to keep quiet?" Well, you see, they wanted electric powered cars. Now that they have them, they don't dare criticise them. Same for wind power. Wind turbines kill endangered species, but after agitating for them, they don't dare admit any mistakes.
sts808 Veteran Author Honolulu Posts:361 Points:51,890 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 8:27:33 AM Ignore sts808 Report Abuse ok
TruthMatters Champion Author New Jersey Posts:2,520 Points:533,985 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 7:58:56 AM Ignore TruthMatters Report Abuse Propaganda from Ford
gravityhurts Champion Author North Carolina Posts:4,093 Points:937,505 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 7:11:08 AM Ignore gravityhurts Report Abuse Where are all the nature loving tree-huggers when it comes to what these batteries do to our environment? Did they take a pay-off to keep quiet?
albyneau Sophomore Author California Posts:249 Points:116,040 Joined:Jul 2012	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 12:50:39 AM Ignore albyneau Report Abuse ROI's on EV's & hybrids are still in FAR outer orbit! Hidden environmental and fiscal costs make these completely impracticle in the humanitarian/ ecological big picture! Be a responsible car owner; learn how to work on it, buy used for realistic recycling and avoid upside down values/depreciation, when it breaks fix it yourself, and lastly~ quit trying to keep up with the damn Jones'~!!!
mageetp Champion Author British Columbia Posts:3,210 Points:626,710 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 12:42:48 AM Ignore mageetp Report Abuse Aviator Rob makes a lot of good points.
jetskijerry Champion Author North Carolina Posts:3,896 Points:772,270 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 12:30:40 AM Ignore jetskijerry Report Abuse probably..
menagerie1013 Champion Author San Diego Posts:2,365 Points:689,990 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 12:29:09 AM Ignore menagerie1013 Report Abuse I'd take a hybrid over an EV any day.
rollercoaster All-Star Author Hartford Posts:502 Points:567,660 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 12:18:17 AM Ignore rollercoaster Report Abuse go ford !!!
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,795 Points:413,315 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 12:16:40 AM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse @letterchunker, I can only go by my own personal experience with the Prius but here's how I break down the numbers. Expect to pay around $3,000 more for a hybrid over a conventional car. Upkeep and maintenance costs will be the same to somewhat lower. (Toyota really put very reliable parts in the Prius.) And as far as fuel goes, I use at least 30% less gas than a comparable car. The more you drive, the faster you will pay back that $3,000 price premium over a conventional car. I broke even at around 30,000 miles and I'm already up to 95,000 miles on the odometer. Also, the higher that gas prices increase, the quicker you will pay off the difference. Does anyone honestly believe that gas prices will go back to $2.00/gal?
TFowler513 Champion Author Memphis Posts:3,824 Points:1,413,860 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 12:11:35 AM Ignore TFowler513 Report Abuse Alternatives are the answer!!!
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,795 Points:413,315 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 12:09:31 AM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse Just a clarification, @suzmar, hybrid cars DO have an internal combustion engine. It's the addition of an electric motor and battery pack to that engine what makes it a hybrid. The electric motor makes the engine run more efficiently and that is what gives the car better mileage.
letterchunker Champion Author Texas Posts:2,245 Points:667,675 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 12:08:49 AM Ignore letterchunker Report Abuse Calculate in all costs (car, upkeep, gas, etc) what is the cost per mile and is it worth it or the difference
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,795 Points:413,315 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 12:06:34 AM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse Ummm, @toadNY, hybrids ALREADY charge themselves. My 2007 Prius doesn't have an electric cord. The engine charges the battery when travelling at highway speed and the regenerative braking also charges the battery while slowing down the car.
suicyco16 All-Star Author Phoenix Posts:576 Points:287,625 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 12:04:33 AM Ignore suicyco16 Report Abuse yup
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,795 Points:413,315 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 12:03:28 AM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse Just understand, @jimedB, that those 35 to 40mpg mileage estimates are for highway driving. As a nation, we're spending more and more of our commute stuck in traffic where the mileage goes way down. On the other hand, hybrids get their best mileage at lower speeds. So, unless you think that traffic will be LESS in the future, I'd seriously think about that hybrid.
jem069 Champion Author Detroit Posts:2,538 Points:687,080 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 12:01:19 AM Ignore jem069 Report Abuse ok
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,795 Points:413,315 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 12:00:32 AM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse Don't worry, @milespergallon. Nobody's making you buy a hybrid or an EV. You can keep driving your regular car until you're the last one. Meanwhile, the rest of us will be getting 100mpg in our hybrids or just skipping the gas station altogether in our 300 mile range EVs.
FedupwithGreed All-Star Author Victoria Posts:707 Points:163,930 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2012 11:58:24 PM Ignore FedupwithGreed Report Abuse About time.
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,795 Points:413,315 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2012 11:57:56 PM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse That's okay, @DustyHorse. Lithium ion battery packs are heavily recycled. Those rare earth metals are valuable and get reprocessed right into new batteries.
Gas4Gore Champion Author Detroit Posts:2,421 Points:423,875 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2012 11:56:35 PM Ignore Gas4Gore Report Abuse ok
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,795 Points:413,315 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2012 11:55:36 PM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse Those are PLUG-IN hybrids, @FuelOilOH. All regular hybrids have battery packs, although they are much smaller than the plug-in models. And don't worry about range. A 10 gallon gas tank will take you at least 400 miles, enough for even the most extreme commute.
heydano67 Champion Author California Posts:1,666 Points:358,410 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2012 11:54:47 PM Ignore heydano67 Report Abuse Moving forward and reducing cost
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,795 Points:413,315 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2012 11:52:45 PM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse For the record, @Wanda127, hybrids tend to be more reliable than conventional vehicles. Also, battery life seems to be a non-factor otherwise you would already hear about 10 year old Toyota Prius' (Prii?) dying left and right as their battery packs fizzle out.
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,795 Points:413,315 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2012 11:49:37 PM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse How about a CNG powered hybrid, @MahopacJack? Hybrid technology isn't a fuel source, it's a drivetrain choice, one that is simply more efficient than a conventional gasoline and transmission.
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,795 Points:413,315 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2012 11:47:43 PM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse The technology keeps getting better and better. Have a good look everyone, the future is coming faster than you think.
must87searcher Champion Author Maryland Posts:8,980 Points:1,780,260 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2012 11:36:37 PM Ignore must87searcher Report Abuse This is a push forward, but the hybrid still has a ways too go.
repseng Sophomore Author Twin Cities Posts:165 Points:14,940 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2012 11:34:01 PM Ignore repseng Report Abuse Ok
Van_Halen Champion Author Atlanta Posts:2,850 Points:641,980 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2012 11:27:24 PM Ignore Van_Halen Report Abuse . Go FORD!
tdmedan All-Star Author Colorado Posts:580 Points:148,945 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2012 11:27:14 PM Ignore tdmedan Report Abuse ok
drz614 Champion Author Harrisburg Posts:2,300 Points:597,690 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2012 11:26:30 PM Ignore drz614 Report Abuse ok
serrog Champion Author Nova Scotia Posts:5,564 Points:1,512,130 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2012 11:25:45 PM Ignore serrog Report Abuse nice
snerd All-Star Author Pennsylvania Posts:935 Points:654,500 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2012 11:25:33 PM Ignore snerd Report Abuse Not interested in hybrids at this point.
BigBrat Champion Author Phoenix Posts:2,674 Points:1,052,400 Joined:Dec 2004	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2012 11:22:29 PM Ignore BigBrat Report Abuse Good
wayoung56 Champion Author Alabama Posts:2,800 Points:818,335 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2012 11:22:12 PM Ignore wayoung56 Report Abuse Interesting article...
mstearno Champion Author Dayton Posts:8,066 Points:1,731,235 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2012 11:15:54 PM Ignore mstearno Report Abuse good news for China
JimVP All-Star Author Chicago Posts:632 Points:153,760 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2012 11:14:39 PM Ignore JimVP Report Abuse Prices need to come down to a more reasonable amount.
MG_Sputnik Champion Author Philadelphia Posts:7,305 Points:1,960,405 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2012 11:13:37 PM Ignore MG_Sputnik Report Abuse Not even remotely interested in EV's.
camaro_man Champion Author Kitchener-Waterloo Posts:2,230 Points:611,005 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2012 11:13:26 PM Ignore camaro_man Report Abuse but its a ford.....
abcdMA Champion Author Worcester Posts:7,922 Points:1,574,980 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2012 11:12:13 PM Ignore abcdMA Report Abuse ok, but EV will still be useful for only a few
MahopacJack Champion Author New York Posts:8,014 Points:1,583,180 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2012 11:12:12 PM Ignore MahopacJack Report Abuse Hybrids may become a thing of the past as they will have to compete with natural (and very plentiful) natural gas.
Wanda127 Champion Author Florida Posts:2,499 Points:915,005 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2012 11:12:07 PM Ignore Wanda127 Report Abuse If the Hybrid works that would be good but what will it cost to buy & repair.
NorthglennBill Champion Author Denver Posts:7,422 Points:1,471,945 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2012 11:06:31 PM Ignore NorthglennBill Report Abuse CNG is the car I want. This battery thing is just starting to look like it isn't going to work very well.
Cableman66 Champion Author North Carolina Posts:2,110 Points:490,695 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2012 11:01:47 PM Ignore Cableman66 Report Abuse We shall see.
FuelOilOH Champion Author Cleveland Posts:2,837 Points:1,180,220 Joined:Oct 2007	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2012 11:01:16 PM Ignore FuelOilOH Report Abuse So the plug-in gets 20 miles per charge before the engine kicks in. I couldn't even get to work one way with that.
DustyHorse Champion Author Virginia Posts:6,085 Points:1,391,805 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2012 11:01:04 PM Ignore DustyHorse Report Abuse Good news since the Chinese have a lock on a lot of rare earth metals.
bra0712 Champion Author Arizona Posts:3,660 Points:768,345 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2012 11:00:41 PM Ignore bra0712 Report Abuse ok
BeatOPEC All-Star Author Indianapolis Posts:857 Points:197,030 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2012 10:56:47 PM Ignore BeatOPEC Report Abuse Still won't make electic cars marketable.
milespergallon Champion Author Illinois Posts:9,744 Points:1,908,360 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2012 10:52:32 PM Ignore milespergallon Report Abuse Too bad they can not read the market: WE DON'T WANT ELECTRIC CR@P